How Did How Did DroughtDrought, and Dust Storms Compound , and Dust Storms Compound Depression Era Problems for Farmers?Depression Era Problems for Farmers?

Where was the Where was the Dust BowlDust Bowl??

What caused the What caused the Dust BowlDust Bowl disaster? disaster?Severe drought (no rain)Severe drought (no rain)Overgrazing by cattleOvergrazing by cattleOver plowing by farmersOver plowing by farmersHigh windsHigh winds– All these conditions All these conditions

destroyed the destroyed the grassesgrasses that that held the soil in place held the soil in place

– These storms were called These storms were called ““Black BlizzardsBlack Blizzards””

– Parts of the Parts of the Great PlainsGreat Plains became known as the became known as the Dust Dust Bowl Bowl

Scenes from the Scenes from the Dust BowlDust Bowl Dust Storm over OklahomaDust Storm over Oklahoma

Scenes from the Scenes from the Dust BowlDust Bowl Dust Storm over TexasDust Storm over Texas

Scenes from the Scenes from the Dust BowlDust Bowl Dust Storm over Kansas Dust Storm over Kansas

Who did the drought hit the hardest?Who did the drought hit the hardest?Migrant workersMigrant workers– Poor farmers from Poor farmers from OklahomaOklahoma

and and ArkansasArkansas headed west headed west to escape the to escape the Dust BowlDust Bowl

– Many moved to the Many moved to the west west coastcoast to find jobs on farms to find jobs on farms

– They were not welcomed by They were not welcomed by localslocals

– Locals feared that the Locals feared that the migrants would take local migrants would take local jobsjobs

– Migrant workers lived in poor Migrant workers lived in poor conditions conditions (tents, no water or (tents, no water or electricity)electricity)

Conclusion:Conclusion: How did drought, and dust storms How did drought, and dust storms compound depression era problems for farmers?compound depression era problems for farmers?

Farmers were already struggling through Farmers were already struggling through the economic depression the economic depression (due to (due to overproduction of crops)overproduction of crops)Lack of rain and the overuse of land made Lack of rain and the overuse of land made farmers problems worsefarmers problems worseConditions forced farmers of the Great Conditions forced farmers of the Great Plains to migrate west where they were Plains to migrate west where they were unwelcome and faced an even harder lifeunwelcome and faced an even harder lifeMany were left displaced/homeless as Many were left displaced/homeless as farm land became useless farm land became useless